Harmonicas – 1 Standard Tuning & 3 Altered Tunings
Our Harmonicas
Harmonicas are the perfect tool for singer / songwriters to create hook lines and melodies. And they’re not just for playing Blues and Folk anymore. The Lee Oskar Harmonicas System provides multiple harmonica models which are uniquely suited to play in so many genres of music, it may surprise you!
Harmonica players all over the world prefer the Lee Oskar Harmonicas System, which is distinguished by the consistent quality of materials, design, construction, and sound. Our four distinct harmonica models feature standard and altered tunings (available in multiple keys), for playing many different musical genres. See below for a complete list of Lee Oskar models and the corresponding music genres that each is designed to play. Color-coded for easy identification.
standard
tuning
tuning
Major Diatonic
The Major Diatonic is the standard Blues tuning and may be played in the 1st & 2nd Positions.
Using 1st Position (Straight Harp): FOLK, COUNTRY. Using 2nd Position (Cross Harp): BLUES, ROCK, POP, COUNTRY
Understanding 1st / 2nd Positions
Available in 18 Keys (Listed low to high):
Lo C, Lo D, Lo E, Lo F, Lo F#, G, Ab, A, Bb, B, C, Db, D, Eb, E, F, F#, Hi G
Orange Label - Model #1910
MAP: $43.99 / MSRP: $64.99
altered
tuning
tuning
Melody Maker™
The Melody Maker™, with its three altered notes, is great for playing Major scale melodies in 2nd Position (Cross Harp): R&B, COUNTRY, REGGAE, POP, JAZZ, LATIN, AFRO, CLAVE, SKA (Not recommended for BLUES)
Understanding 1st / 2nd Positions
Available in 9 Keys (Listed low to high):
C, D, Eb, E, F, G, A, Bb, High C
Blue Label - Model #1910MM
MAP: $43.99 / MSRP: $64.99
altered
tuning
tuning
Natural Minor
The Natural Minor, with its five altered notes, is a natural choice for playing minor music in 2nd Position (Cross Harp):
MINOR BLUES, REGGAE, SKA, LATIN, FUNK, R&B, HIP HOP
Understanding 1st / 2nd Positions
Available in 12 Keys (Listed low to high):
Dm, Ebm, Em, Fm, F#m, Gm, Abm, Am, Bbm, Bm, Cm, Dbm
Green Label - Model #1910N
MAP: $43.99 / MSRP: $64.99
altered
tuning
tuning
Harmonic Minor
The Harmonic Minor, with its five altered notes, is ideal for playing World Music. It offers a soulful, Eastern European sound, perfectly suited for playing traditional ethnic music spanning many different cultures. Typically played in 1st Position (Straight Harp): EASTERN EUROPEAN, GYPSY, YIDDISH, ASIAN, TANGO, REGGAE
Understanding 1st / 2nd Positions
Available in 13 Keys (Listed low to high):
Low Em, Gm, Abm, Am, Bbm, Bm, Cm, Dbm, Dm, Ebm, Em, Fm, F#m
Yellow Label - Model #1910H
MAP: $43.99 / MSRP: $64.99
About Lee Oskar Harmonicas ‘Altered Tunings’
- Altered tunings make it easy to play many different kinds of music and can help to expand your musical horizons.
- Altered tunings sound very different from the traditional Blues/Rock/Country Standard tuning.
- Altered tunings provide different sounds and scales, with certain reeds that have been modified.
- Altered tunings let you play in Major and minor keys / scales more easily.
Owning multiple altered tunings, in different keys, is like adding new colors of paint to your musical palette… and they are fun to play! Explore these fantastic tunings, listen to the demos and refer to the layouts and key charts available on this site, to appreciate all the benefits that they provide.
It is very important to understand the different playing positions used when playing the harmonica, such as 1st and 2nd position.
Where to Buy
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